The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.116)

The winner’s medals for the sports meet of Kepong Dai Ai Kindergarten were designed to convey the importance of reducing our carbon footprint and committing to kind deeds. percent lower in quality than plastic products wholly produced from raw materials, as raw materials constitute only ten percent of their composition. These particles are fragile, yellowish in colour and raise concerns of hygiene, rendering them unsuitable to be processed into food-grade packaging. Instead, they are used in making flowerpots, clothes hangers, toolboxes and household cleaning products. Sixty percent of the plant’s production capacity is dedicated to recycling processes. Victor would acquire recycled materials from other recycling plants to compensate for the shortage, as the plant is unable to keep up with the labour-intensive procedure of classifying plastics. This is compounded by the fact that most recycling dealers have yet to adopt the practice of sorting plastics before delivering them to the plant. The thorough sorting of waste is an essential step in the process of recycling used plastic resources. Once, a thin piece of copper wire was lodged in a tube transporting melted plastic to the machinery, causing technical glitches in the plant’s operations. The machinery is susceptible to wear and tear if similar mishaps were to occur frequently. Moreover, an entire batch of processed plastic would go to waste if impurities were to be found within. The state-wide ban on plastic straws and plastic bags implemented in Selangor earlier this year has had minimal impact on the sustainability of the plant’s business, as Victor’s line of products vary from vehicle components and plastic training bullets for military use to furniture, dining utensils and stationery. But he has seen the factories specializing in manufacturing plastic straws collapse under the policy. “Plastic straws are not to blame for the growing glut of plastic waste. They are recyclable by nature, but recycling dealers avoid them as they are too lightweight and tedious to be processed, which fails to justify the meagre profit,” he explained. Although the majority of plastics are essentially recyclable, certain types of plastics that are less cost-effective to process than others would likely be dismissed as trash. Materials that are formed by a composite of plastic and aluminium foil, such as those used in the packaging for biscuits and instant noodles, are also not conducive for recycling. If plastics were to contend against their creator – mankind, each would probably cast the blame on the other for landing the Earth in its current dire state. If plastics could talk, they would probably voice out against humanity for failing to foresee the consequences of their reliance on plastic. TZU CHI 116 19 Pulling the Plug on Plastics